How to get a launch PS4 and Xbox One (Updated with special offers)

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In just a couple of weeks, we’ll be living in an entirely new generation (of video games). However, if you didn’t pre-order your PS4 or Xbox One long ago, you’ll be stuck living in the past, as the two consoles have been sold out for quite a while. There are still a few ways to get your hands on a launch PS4 or Xbox One, but it’ll require a bit of dedication and patience. Read on, to find out how to get a launch PS4 or Xbox One. At the end of the story, if you’re looking to get a cheap PS4 or Xbox One, we have a section that lists the best deals and bundles.

It’s important to note that if you didn’t pre-order your consoles long ago and also don’t manage to snag one on launch day, you won’t be missing much for a while. Consoles rarely launch with a must-have title, and when they do, that title is also available on the previous generation. Sure, the graphics won’t be as pretty, but then again, launch games on new consoles don’t look nearly as good as games do toward the end of the console lifespan — especially because the more advanced our console graphics become, the less our eyes notice. That said, it’s still alluring to own a day-one console, and if you’re going to purchase a multi-generation game, it might as well be on the new one. So, if you’re dead-set on getting a launch console, there are still a few avenues down which you can travel.

Walmart pre-orders

Walmart is currently your best bet to secure your launch console, but there are two catches. First, you can only pre-order a PS4, not an Xbox One. Second, this launch console will ship before Christmas, but not by the November 15 launch date. The availability of PS4 pre-orders isn’t because the console is less popular than its competitor — quite the contrary — demand for the console is so high that Walmart has opened up pre-orders for the second wave of launch consoles. So, it’s not that the PS4 is actually available — it’s just so popular that Walmart is selling future consoles. As for the Xbox One, those are sold out as well, but Walmart has not secured future stock.

This method requires the least amount of effort, and returns the highest rate of securing a console. The caveat is, you’ll be waiting around a month to get your PS4 (but that may not be an issue, if there are no launch games that you want to play).

Midnight launches

Best Buy and GameStop will be hosting midnight launches for both consoles, and Best Buy claims it will have limited stock for those who didn’t pre-order a unit. Best Buy has had limited, non-pre-order stock with consoles in the past (it was the easiest place to secure a non-reserved launch PSP in a big city, for instance), so the big box chain will be your best bet for a November 15 console.

GameStop, on the other hand, is notorious for not having enough stock regardless of the company’s claims — even for those who pre-ordered. Of course, this is a case-by-case basis, but everyone has known a friend who works or has worked at GameStop at one point who claims that all of the non-reserved units get snatched up and auctioned by store employees. Consult Best Buy’s PS4 midnight launch locator and Xbox One midnight launch locator to maximize your chances.

If you can manage it, the best strategy is always to find the most out-of-the-way store you can, and get there as early as possible. If you live in a large metropolitan area, a midnight launch is going to require a lot of dedication; you may need to travel quite far and take off work the following day so you can travel back.

Ebay

The second-hand market is the worst-case scenario, but it’s your last resort if you must have a console at launch. Prices will be outrageous, they always are. However, it’s reliable, as the person selling you a PS4 or Xbox One at five times the retail price has every intention of making the sale. You’ll get the console a few days later since the seller has to ship it — and you’ll be paying much more money than if you waited a couple months — but you’ll get it before Walmart’s second wave of pre-orders kicks in.

If you go this route, make sure you’re bidding on the actual console, and not the sketchy listings that auction off the box without any hardware inside of it. The auction title and item descriptions usually say something like, “brand new box” instead of “brand new console.”

Other than the above methods, you’re going to have to wait it out. Again, if you’re not twitching in anticipation to play Assassin’s Creed IV, Call of Duty: Ghosts, NBA 2K14, or the other meager launch day offerings (especially because you can get the big titles on PS3 and Xbox 360), it shouldn’t take too long for Sony and Microsoft to restock the shelves. They want to take your money as much as you want to give it to them.

PS4 and Xbox One deals and bundles

If the $399 price tag wasn’t appealing enough, Sony has announced that the PS4 will get a trio of promotions on launch day. Every retail PS4 box will contain a voucher for a $10 wallet credit for the PSN store, a 30-day free PlayStation Plus trial membership, and a 30-day Music Unlimited trial membership. The two 30-day trials are only valid for new subscribers. While these vouchers won’t blow you away, a month of PSN+ will get you some free games (until the trial runs out), and $10 is better than $0, as it could buy you some DLC or a PSN game.

Meanwhile, Target is set to offer a nice discount on PS4 games at launch, providing gamers with a 2-for-1 deal. Amazon is also offering a 2-for-1, so go with your outlet of choice.

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Jordan Fink

So how exactly can you preorder from Walmart? I’ve searched through their whole website and tried to find a way to preorder with no success. All I am seeing is it say “Preorder now” in green and then asks for me to select bundle accessories, but I cannot advance past that

http://www.mrseb.co.uk/ Sebastian Anthony

I asked James (he’s sitting next to me), and he said ‘Click the button, bro.’

Jordan Fink

I would if there were any buttons to press…

Kevin Marshall

Sign up for zooalert.com alerts and then go to nowinstock.net and look at their how to guide for getting one through the Walmart preorders. I got one this morning using it. Just a heads up though, you have to do it immediately after then send those alerts. Also, read the comments on the bottom of nowinstock.net, they are helpful. I had typed out exactly how I got mine, but it didn’t post and I don’t have the time to write it all back out. Good luck.

Jordan Fink

Signing up for Zoolert worked for me and I got one through Amazon. Appreciate the help!

http://www.zoolert.com/ zooLert.com

zoolert.com, drop the “a”. :)

Phillip Green

Get an auto clicker it pops now and then throughout the day

Andre Figueroa

During the second wave of pre-orders you had to go to the store and take a ticket out the display box to the layaway department . It would not let you preorder online . That was Aug 21st so doubt there are any left by now !

Kevin

Its hidden toward the bottom on the right, where you add to cart

John Dough

By the way guys, if you have no interest in standing in line for hours or simply can’t afford one, you have a chance at winning a Free Ps4 console and more more by entering a Playstation 4 International Giveaway.

They went pretty fast ! I seen it online and went to a store off the beaten path to score mine ! Good luck ! You are more then likely going to have to attend a midnight launch ! I would take the advice of the article and head to a out of the way store !

Yet you read the article and actually posted on it. You are cool. Smh. F’ing hipsters

John

I am “twitching to play” Assassin’s Creed IV, Call of Duty: Ghosts…..on PC. Stop waiting for these crap boxes and let us play!!!

standard

While I understand that pre-ordering and getting launch day versions does appeal to the more ‘extreme’ tech fans, it still gets me down at just how impatient and desperate some people can be.
Is waiting a little bit really that hard to do?
Are the day 1 issues worth the risk?
I really do worry that being ‘first’ is more important to some than worrying about whether what they’re buying deserves to be bought.

Master Troll

Greatness awaits

Robert Powers

one word standard: warranty

standard

A warranty doesn’t cover for disappointment.

IKROWNI

the consoles are finally catching up to where pc was 5-7 years ago. well i cant really say that pc has been over 720p for a lot longer than that im pretty sure.

Frank

People wait because they are excited. They are gamers who can’t wait to play on next gen consoles. The people who care more about being first are the ones willing to pay more for it on ebay

Eduardo

I pre order my ps4 at the store not online will I be able to get the PS4 on Launch Date or a month after?. I know for bundles they will arrive a month after.

justerthought

All these late arrivals rushing to get on the PS4 bandwagon make me laugh. They hung back like party poopers casting doubt, then when they realise what they are missing they rush in but it’s too late. The boat has already sailed and the party is about to start. The only way to get a launch console is embrace the new tech when announced and place your pre-order. All those that really wanted one from the get go are getting one at launch. It only takes a bit of foresight and some decisive action, but all I heard was tales of whoa and how the console industry is on its death bed.

Robert Powers

I am going to a Wal-mart in a small town where i go to school. Do you think that even though it is a middle of nowhere Wal-mart that they will have PS4’s?

Robert Powers

I am going to a Wal-mart in a small town where i go to school. Do you think that even though it is a middle of nowhere Wal-mart that they will have PS4’s?

Frank

Why not call and ask? Every walmart should be getting some. Some obviously more than others.

Liam

Ps4 is in limited stock at zavvi.com for day of release, but only the Killzone bundle. If you are new to zavvi you can get 5% off the the whole of your first order. Create an account and as you do use referral code: ZV3875492 then make your order. Remember its 5% off the WHOLE of your first order.

Hope this help people :)

makoto picasso

Nobody has money to even buy the spendy consoles, plus there’s not even a huge graphic difference either so idk everyone thinks it’s sold out

Frank

It is sold out. And people do have money to buy it, which is why it is sold out. Not sure where you been living but if you think that people don’t have money to purchase a ps4 then you are clueless. And yes, there is a huge graphic difference. There is a huge processor difference. They wouldn’t wait 8 years to release a new console if it wasn’t worth it. Look at the 360 compared to the xbox. Looks at ps3 vs ps2. If you think that next gen isn’t a huge step up from the previous model, then I don’t know what to tell you. Quit crying just because you won’t be able to get one.

Frank

And how are they “speedy” when the ps3 cost 200$ more than the ps4? And yet the ps4 is twice the machine… At least. And if you think that it’s not sold out, try to buy a pre order right now. Being sold out is a fact. Not like your stupid opinion

Frank

*spendy

Marble Shark

Spoken truly like a man who doesn’t know how to use the ‘Edit’ button… Anyway the OP is right, there isn’t a huge graphical difference – this is part in fact to the lack of a Cell processor which is still an astounding bit of kit even by todays standards. The fact the PS3 was $200 doesn’t make the PS4 any less ‘spendy’.. the PS3 was *well* ahead of its time – the same cannot be remotely said for the PS4 which is already inferior to PCs that have been about for 2 years now… lame.

Frank

Please explain how the ps3 was ahead of its time but the ps4 isn’t? So now you are saying sony, the same company that launched the ps3 doesbt know what they are doing anymore? And seriously enough with the PC vs console BS. A console cost hundreds. A PC that can play games smoothly cost thousands. And even 3-5k pcs couldn’t play crisis smoothly. While I had no problem at all playing it on my Xbox. Also why would I want to play a game on a tiny monitor? I’m trying to play on a huge ass 4k. You can hook PC up to a tv but then the graphics are the same anyway. Probably a little worse.

Uffdabock

$400 computers can make the exact same game that a ps4/xboxone is putting out look better. Frank is the most uninformed biased person I have ever met. He doesn’t understand that Crisis on the xbox360 looks the same as playing crisis on the pc at the lowest graphic settings. He is comparing apples to oranges to try to win an argument. I have a $600 pc and I can play every single PC game that is available right now smoothly and they will look better then the same game on the ps4 or xbox. Again, the thing to remember is when comparing the 2, you have to take the low settings on a PC to get the graphics that the ps4 puts out. That is how you should compare them when looking at frame rates.

Frank

You are a fukin idiot. I’ve been gaining longer than you have been a live probably. There is no 400$ gaming computer that can compete. Period. 3-5 thousand dollar computers couldn’t play crisis you dumb shit. I have a very high end PC but prefer to play on consoles. You are a dumb shit man. If you seriously think that there can be a 400$ gaming computer that can compete with a console that you really are that dumb. A gaming computer needs to be built to handle what games will throw at it. That’s not cheap. By the way the ps4 has PC architecture now. Fukin moron. Play crisis on you piece of shit 400$ PC and let me know how that works out for you.

Frank

*gaming

Chris

No point in trying to argue with you as you clearly are just trolling. I play Crisis on my $600 computer no problem. You are living under a rock son, and I am probably of age to be your father you degenerate little cunt.

Frank

Really? That’s funny because people with 3k war machines couldn’t play crisis. Tell me what processor and graphics are you running in your 600 PC?

Frank

You know how we know that you are a tool? Because there is no such thing as a gaming computer for 600$. You are an idiot. If there were, then companies like Alienware wouldn’t exist selling gaming PCs for thousands. They cost thousands because they need high end equpent to play all games. Now I’m sure you game pretty hard with Oregon trail and Carmen San Diego. But us real gamers know what’s what. I have my PC set up right next to my ps4 and there is virtually no difference on graphics. My real gaming PC cost about 5 times your because it is an actually PC built for gaming. The hardware you need to game on a PC is a hell of a lot more than 600$. And that is 600 for your whole computer? Not even close to a gaming machine. You saying it is just proves that you really are just talking out of your ass. You can’t build a decent machine with used parts for 600. And you saying you could play crisis smoothly on it? Please tell us your secret since you would be the only person with a cheap ass PC to play it on. This was a huge deal when the game came out. Somthing that you obviously have no idea about. So do me a favor and shut the fuk up man. You are clueless.

That is what I paid over a year ago. Could do so much better now. With this system I produce far superior graphics to what the PS4/Xbox One can produce, it is not even a contest. The Ps4 has a laptop GPU which has been bench marked and is comparable to a 6870. My 7870 XT benchmarks over 2x as powerful as the ps4’s, pretty sad. I love consoles and all gaming, but people should know, the next gen systems are not giving you a lot of graphical power for your buck, building a PC is the only way to do that. P.S. Frank, youmadbro?

Frank

That’s fine to make claims just like the fukin all talk little pussy bitch that you clearly are, but funny how you fail to list how your piece of shit PC is able to play. Funny how you don’t list the hardware or components of your junk PC. And easy with the cunt talk man. I ain’t your fukin wife. Wait, a loser living in his fukin parents basement can’t be married. Then scratch that. I ain’t your fukin mom. Fukin pussy bitch.

Frank

And by the way you stupid fuk, my point was at the time people couldn’t play crysis on most expensive gaming pcs. I would hope that a cheaper gaming PC can play a game 8 fukin years later stupid shit. But a cheap ass PC will not play all games the way it should. Crysis proved that years ago. That was my fukin point dumb fuk. Whether or not you can play the game now 8 years later doesn’t fukin mater.

Frank

And where is the “edit” button located on the iphone?

Frank

Both next gen consoles are going to be incredible machines. Just like they have always been. And 400 and 500 for what you are getting is definitely not “spendy.” A cell phone that cost hundreds more is “spendy” I live in so cal where I see people spending 1k just for a day with the fam at Disneyland. 400$ “spendy” give me a break man

makoto picasso

The new consoles are a waste of money and u trolls are gonna do what u do best and give them ur money cuz ur all a bunch of trolls

Antoine Talbot

Ok “we” are trolls. Fine. Then what are you? A very smart Troll ?

IKROWNI

give them there money and then marvel over the new 720p graphics, and say how epic there new consoles graphics are with the settings all capped at low. but hey at least they will get 60fps SOMETIMES lol. ps4 shit all over the xbone but ps4 still cant shak a stick at pc, not even close.

Frank

Yams 400$ compared to 3000 PC are the same thing. And since when is 1600×900 720p? If you want to play on your fake ass gaming computer then do it. I have a pretty expensive war machine but prefer to play on consoles. Quit trolling fukin little crying bitch

Frank

How are they a waste of money? Care to explain you dumb ass comment? Your just a crying bitch hipster who ethier can’t afford the new system, or was too slow to pre order. Ethier way you obviously want it and can’t get it. So now you bash it. That the typical pattern for you stupid ass hipsters

IKROWNI

Well since the hardware in it is years old you can build similar PC for the same price. But the difference afterwards is that your allowed to upgrade pieces as you wish, and its easy to do so when you only pay 1/3 the price for games. so after purchasing like 5 games you still have enough from saving to grab another GPU and sli /crossfire them then your good to go for a while.

Frank

Sorry man but you cannot build a game playing PC for the same price. As I recal, most PCs built for gaming couldn’t even handle crisis. PCs that cost thousands. And yet I had no problem playing it on my xbox. Consoles do what they are supposed to do. PC games on very very expensive machines can still be glitchy and choppy. Crisis proved that

That should be a good starting point for ya. And after the saving from your next 2 games you can afford another 7850 to crossfire it. And in 2 years instead of sitting around with your old ps4 you can simply upgrade your GPU again, sitback, and have fun on your hundreds of games in your library that you can share with your family and friends. Or when you upgrade to your new 4k TV have fun enjoying resolutions in true 4k, enjoy your media center that’s not all clunky and supports any format you can throw at it. Grab an oculus rift and feel as though you are there in the action yourself show your friends what they missed out on buying a console that they are stucvk with for the next 10 years.

Frank

Haha. Please tell me you are kidding. That link to that fukin JUNK?? That’s what you post? jUNK? That’s what your “gaming PC” is? Hahah. That is straight Cracker Jack junk man. And you post the link to it? Haha. Shows how much you know about gaming PCs. Damn that is funny as fuk. Start there you said… Haha. My fukin toster is more powerful that that shit.

You are a clueless tool. Period. I’ve built many a gaming PC and people like you who are too broke to buy a console, but need a PC for school and porn and shit, you think that that junk will be sufficient to play all games in full hd is just fukin stupid. It can’t happen. A 400$ console will play great games for the next 7 or 8 years. By then you would have had to upgrade at least 3 or 4 times. You can’t compare the two over the long run. You trying to tell me that that shit listed from that link is sufficient to compete with a console is just plain fukin stupid and proves that you obviously do not know what you are talking about.

Frank

Really it’s just common fukin sense. That cheap ass pos of a gaming PC will not last more than two years and that pushing it. That is fact. So what do you do then? Dump more money into it. In 8 years I will still have a 400 or 500$ gaming machine. While that 450$ PC is now well over a G with the possibility of not being able to play all games smoothly. Which was my whole crysis point. There are games that will just need a more powerful PC. And all for what? Slightly better graphics? Seriously? On a tiny fukin monitor? Come on kid get a fukin clue. I’m not against PC gaming. But facts are facts.

Frank

And did you really say “whatevs?” Wow I didn’t realize you were a 10 year old girl. Sorry the. For the bad language and little girl. But now It make sense why you really had no idea what you were talking about. One day when you get older and more wise you will understand just how stupid this all was. Kids like you who can get a console love to act like PC is the greatest thing ever. Consoles are a billion dollar industry for a reason. Hardcore gamers will play on console, PC, iphone, just as long there is something worth playing.

Frank

*cant get a console

Frank

And really… Talking about oculus rift? Obviously you have no idea what the fuk you are talking about. I can use oculus rift on my fukin Ouya machine that cost 100$ you fukin moron. Why are you even still trying to talk man. You are fukin clueless.

IKROWNI

hahaha dude get up off my junk man! your sooo funny here if you can actually read take a look here ill jut copy pasta here for you:

We have entered a two-week maelstrom of “next-gen” (heh) console-mania, and after only a few days, I am fully prepared to give it RPS’ official Golden Hangnail Of Extreme Dedication To Tireless Tedium. Two eerily similar hyper-proprietary boxes that everyone can’t stop arguing over for incredibly petty, inconsequential reasons? Gee, we’ve never been here before. But hey, on the upside, this increasingly spotty, irrelevant console launch also gives us a chance to be thankful for PC gaming’s bounteous wonderments. For example, we’ve got The Future – aka, Oculus Rift – in our corner, and it’s not going anywhere any time soon.

The man, the myth, the possible leprechaun Palmer Luckey explained why Oculus is a PC-only device to Techradar:

“Consoles are too limited for what we want to do. ”The problem with consoles in general is that once they come out they’re locked to a certain spec for a long, long time. Look at the PCs that existed eight years ago. There have been so many huge advances since then. Now look at the VR hardware of today. I think the jump we’re going to see in the next four or five years is going to be massive, and already VR is a very intensive thing, it requires rendering at high resolutions at over 60 frames a second in 3D.”

“We’re seeing games that are already saying they’re gonna run in 720p on next gen so they can barely hit 60 in 2D. It’s hard to imagine them running a VR experience that’s on par with PC. And certainly five years from now the experiences and the technology for virtual reality that will be available on PC is going to be be so far beyond anything that a console can provide.”

When pressed, he did however chuckle out that Oculus is “great friends” with Valve, suggesting that something Steam-Machine-related isn’t off the table.

But that’s just a PC wearing console pants, so we win again. Now if only I could enter a virtual reality world where everyone isn’t incessantly bickering over next-gen consoles right this very second. And then never leave. Come on, The Future. Get here faster

Alim_N

It looks like this frank guy is just trolling hard.. He has no idea what he’s talking about. 4k lol? PS4 doesn’t even run games in 4k so please stfu lol. At least pc can do 4k. Either way he is a lost cause and his only agreement is running crysis on max settings which consoles don’t do anyways so it’s a dumb argument. Don’t bother helping this troll

Frank

Click that link again man and actually read, everybody on there is saying that it’s crap. One person even said “trash” haha. Nice try. Like I said earlier my point was that some high end gaming computers couldn’t play crysis. I would hope that almost 8 years later, a cheap ass PC can play it. But that cheap ass computer will not play all games. Crisis proved that years ago.

Alim_N

Wow, I’ve never heard such garbage from someone before. Your version of crisis that you are playing on xbox 360 is firstly only at 720p, where as on my pc I’m running it at 1200p, yes 1200, not 1080. I can also run it at much higher graphics settings than you, AND at a higher framerate 60 – 100 fps. And all this with a machine that costs around the same at a ps3 did when it released ($650). So considering my PC games look better than ps4 games right now, I’m quite happy with my year old computer that can do much more than gaming as well.

Frank

Really a 650$ dollar machine huh. With what hardware? And playing above 1080p? Wow no way man? Fukin idiot. So you are playing on a fukin monitor.

Frank

I’m sorry but I like to game on a fukin 65″ 4k not some little ass monitors. Keep livin it up in the basement buddy.

IKROWNI

you have a 65″ 4k tv? pics or it didnt happen homie. and alim is correct your playing crysis on a console in 720p 30fps with all settings the lowest they can possibly go. what people were havin trouble doing years and years ago on pc was graphics set at ultra which means at max. rez set to 1080p or higher with over 60fps.

you want to compare those 2 really? also why would he want to game on monitor over tv well probably because no matter what your tv is gonna look like pure ass compared to a nice ips monitor. great thging is he has the choice and can plug it into a tv whenevr he wants to. and if he had a 4k tv like you say you do then he could also use 4k from pc to tv but unfortunately your ps4 cant handle 4k or anything close to it so have fun putting a 1080p max display on your ps4. why in thell would you buy a 4k tv to only hook up a 1080p max gaming set?

bobjinx

You realise you didn’t mention anything about Xbox One deals and bundles right… even thought the paragraph title says “PS4 and Xbox One deals and bundles”. At the very least you could have finished off an otherwise relatively unbiased and balanced article with ” the Xbox one has no bundles” if it has none. Ruins the article balance otherwise.

Marble Shark

I think in reality nobody gives a shit about XBone anymore since ET reported the PS4 has 50% more graphical punch (and then some)…

Marble Shark

“Amazon is also offering a 2-for-1, so go with your outlet of choice.”

Erm, buy 2 get one free is not fucking 2-for-1 ET… that’s 3 for 2, or 1.5 for one. Big difference, go back to fucking school.

John Dough

If anyone wants to try their luck at winning a Ps4 for free, check out the Playstation 4 International Giveaway. You can thank me later!

Really? I had no difficulty getting a ps4 without even trying. I merely called up the local Sony store (about a 35 minute drive from my house), asked if they had any ps4s in stock, and picked one up. I think I was very close to missing it, though, since the guy on the phone said something about lasting about an hour or something like that. This was on the morning of November 18th, by the way. And there wasn’t even a line!

There was even a free t shirt in the bundle bag thingie. And it was even in my size (XL)! I must have gotten super lucky, or the XL size is more common than I thought.

Gotta love reading these comments! Glad to see that everyone is still f***ing each other’s mother. People get so angry about something so irrelevant. Who gives a shit what someone else wants to spend their hard earned money on? Pc vs consoles? I personally like to keep my gaming and porn separate as im easily distracted. That being said I can’t say that don’t occasionally use my pc for gaming after I crank one out.

Derek Schwartz

If you live next to Mexico you can buy it there , there are lot in stock today , but it is a lot more expensive

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